Des élus godillots?: Les députés socialistes face aux nationalisations de 1981-1982

EnglishThe presidentialisation of Western democracies is a significant trend of post-war political history, notably in France. But although the strengthening of executive power has narrowed the reach of the legislative branch, it has not eliminated it completely. By studying the genesis of the 1981-1982 French Nationalisation Law championed by the French Socialist government, this article challenges the cliche of Socialist “yes-men” entirely submissive to Francois Mitterrand’s “imperial presidency”. Their ideological defeat dispels the illusion of an institutional practice during the Fifth Republic that was unique to the Left. From an economic perspective, it also foreshadowed the marginalisation of those faithful to a “strong state”, a concept that had been supported by most elected Socialists, in the name of the “Changer la vie” platform during the previous decade. francaisLa presidentialisation des democraties occidentales constitue une tendance lourde de l’histoire politique de l’apres-guerre, notamment en France. Mais ce renforcement de l’executif, s’il comprime les marges de jeu du pouvoir legislatif, ne les fait pas disparaitre. En etudiant la genese de la loi de nationalisation de 1981-1982, cet article nuance l’image d’« elus godillots » soumis a la « presidence imperiale » de Francois Mitterrand. Leur defaite ideologique balaie toutefois l’illusion d’une pratique institutionnelle propre a la gauche sous la Cinquieme Republique. Elle annonce egalement, en matiere economique, la marginalisation du volontarisme etatique, dont la plupart des elites socialistes, au nom du « Changer la vie », se faisaient les apotres dans la decennie precedente.